Texas Tech’s Donovan Smith (offense), Kansas’ Cobee Bryant (defense), K-State’s Phillip Brooks (special teams), Iowa State’s Colby Reeder (co-newcomer) and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel (co-newcomer) picked up Big 12 football weekly awards for games played on September 10. Smith was honored for the second time in his career after earning a newcomer accolade last season. The other four were recognized for the first time. 
 
Smith threw for a career-high 350 yards and combined for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in Texas Tech's 33-30 double-overtime thriller over No. 25 Houston, its first win over a ranked opponent since 2019. It was also the Red Raiders' first victory over a ranked non-conference foe since defeating No. 20 Arizona in 1989. Smith found the end zone on a nine-yard rush to give the Red Raiders the game-winning TD. He also set career highs for completions (36) and attempts (58) while rushing for 31 yards on 21 carries, which included a career-long run of 27 yards on Texas Tech's final drive in regulation. That rush helped set up the game-tying field goal from Trey Wolff just before time expired. The victory improved Smith to 3-2 as a starter for a TTU offense that leads the country in passing yards per game (411.5) after two weeks of the season.
 
Bryant sealed Kansas' first win in program history over West Virginia in Morgantown, returning an interception 86 yards to end the game at 55-42 in overtime. The sophomore CB jumped WVU quarterback JT Daniels' pass and took it 86 yards to mark his second career interception return for a touchdown (2021 at Texas). Bryant added four tackles and a pass breakup in the Jayhawks' win. The touchdown was Bryant's second of the season after returning a blocked field goal for a score in the season opener against Tennessee Tech.
 
Brooks scored on a 76-yard punt return, K-State’s second straight game with a return touchdown, in the 40-12 win over Missouri. The senior is now second in school history with four-career punt return TDs. K-State leads the nation with 128 non-offensive touchdowns since 1999.
 
Reeder picked off a pass and had a pair of quarterback hurries as the Cyclone defense limited Iowa to just 58 yards rushing and 150 yards of total offense in a 10-7 win. The senior LB tacked on four tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. He has recorded five quarterback hurries through the first two games this season.
 
Gabriel completed 75% of his pass attempts (21-of-28) for 296 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions (199.2 pass efficiency rating) in Oklahoma's 33-3 win over Kent State, a team picked by league coaches to win the Mid-American Conference’s (MAC) East Division title. His touchdown passes covered 18, 36 and 58 yards. The redshirt junior, who has yet to commit a turnover this season, has thrown at least one TD pass in all 28 of his career games and at least two TD passes in 22 contests.
 
Big 12 Football Players of the Week
Sept. 5
Offense: Spencer Sanders, OSU, QB, Sr.
Defense: Lonnie Phelps Jr., KU, DE, Jr.
Special Teams: Derius Davis, TCU, WR/PR/KR, Sr.
Newcomer: CJ Donaldson, WVU, RB, Fr.
 
Sept. 12
Offense: Donovan Smith, TTU, QB, So.
Defense: Cobee Bryant, KU, CB, So.
Special Teams: Phillip Brooks, K-State, WR, Sr.
Co-Newcomers: Colby Reeder, ISU, LB, Sr. and Dillon Gabriel, OU, QB, Jr.